Double-acting fuel crushing and feeding device



N. E. GEE. DOUBLE ACTING FUEL @RUSHING AND FEEDlNG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9. IJIZ.

Patented July-, 1919.

2 SHtETS-SHEET I.

Afa/wmf? 5, 6

N. E. GBE. DOUBLE ACTING FUEL CRUSHINGAND FEEDING DEVICE.

APPLICAIION FILED DEC. 9,1913.

gvwenoz J/a//fwa E. Gee.

/J @Hoz new wimeooeo NORMAN E. GEE, OIE' ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DOUBLE-ACTING FUEL CRUSHING AND FEEDING DEVICE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Application filed December l9, 1913. Serial No. 805,575.

T all whomy it may Concern.'

Be it known that I, NORMAN E, GRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State y of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Double-Acting Fuel Crushing and Feeding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to the subject of automatic stokers of the type that is particularly adapted for use on steam locomotives, and has particular reference to an improved double-acting fuel crushing and feeding device to be used in connection therewith.

The success of automatic stokers is measured toa great extent by .their ability to use all grades of fuel. In other words owing to the limited space and other conditions under which the mechanism has to be used, the fuel must be of relatively uniform size to enable hand shoveling or firing to be as closely simulated as possible. That is to say that the ordinary run of the mine coal which along with pulverized parts usually contains lumps of considerable proportions cannot be successfully used in mechanical stokers. Therefore, in order that no particular grade of fuel must be selected and thereby incur additional eX- pense, it is obvious that some means must be provided as a part of the stoking mechanism which Will break the coal into lumps of uniform size which can be readily handled by the conveying mechanism without danger of obstructing or impeding the accuracy. and uniformity of feed, which it is so essential to maint-ain to insure proper firing conditions.

To this end the present invention contemplates a novel and practical arrangement of crusher elements carried by the locomotive tender that will effectively render the usual run of the mine coal to be' fed to the locomotive, of the proper size to prevent the stoking mechanism from becoming clogged, and thereby insure a positive fuel supply always available for 1eeding through the conveyer to the fire Another objectof the invention is to provide a crusher Whose crushing elements are located entirely Within -the fuel magazine of the tender so that no agitating means, and no crushing piston are necessary, thereby eliminating many objectionable features incident to devices employing such constructions, and in addition to obtaining a double. crushing effect perfo-rms a second function which is of the utmost importance in the practical operation of the machine, namely that of providing a constant feed.

A furtherv object vof the invention is to provide a structure of simple design, the particular arrangement of the parts of which permit of ready assembling and taking apart, thereby facilitating repairs and rendering the interior parts of the conveyer or other stoking mechanism quickly accessible when the occasion demands.

A still further object'of the invention is to provide a coal crushing and feeding device, that will do away with the kneadng or churning of the coal in the tender, an action which is always present in the operation of the piston type of Crusher having coal agitating means. The elimination of this fault incident to the latter construction, is an important feature of this invention, as it not only saves power, but prevents large lumps of coal being pushed about in the tender magazine until they fall into the conveyer, and is due to the arrangement and location of the crusher elements in the magazine.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood,

the same consists in the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is atop plan View of the doubleacting fuel crushing and feeding device on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation ofthe device, and' Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View of the line 4 4 of Fig. l.

, Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The crusher designed according to the present inventio-n, and referred to in its entirety by the reference character C, is carried by the engine tender, its entire iet , ing elements lie within the lower fuel space mechanism ineffective.

tom 1 of the magazine is arranged the conof magazine, and at the same time the crusher as a whole has both a Suitable lateral and longitudinal play in the opening'. The bottom of the said magazine adjacent the opening 2 is substantially flat, so that bridging of the coal over the opening cannot occur, and thereby render the crushing Beneath the botveyer chute 3 which is adapted to receive the coal crushed and measured by lthe crusher device, so that it may be carried by suitable conveyer means to the fire box of the locomotive in the usual well known manner.

For the purpose of more clearly understanding the invention, it may be noted at lthis point with further reference to the conveyer chute 3, that a part of the same is connected to the crusher'C as will hereinafter .more fully appear in'fdetail, while. the other end (not shown) must he connected to the locomotive. That is tofsay, in order to insure a proper conveyer connection between the engine and Atender, and prevent serious damage which would result from a rigid attachment, the conveyor must be carried by the locomotive so that its crusher end has a lexible7 or floating connection with the tender,l thereby permitting the crusher as a whole to accommodate itself to the usual twists and .turns of the road bed. The present invention makes ample provision for this by clamping the crusher to the bottom of the magazine'l so that it may have sullicient clearance to permit play in all directions in a horizontal plane within the opening 2. This/clearance is shown at the ends and sides of the opening 2,Av respectively in Figs. 2 and 4.

The body of the Crusher C is preferably in the nature of a casting forming an open crusher frame 4 which is provided from the top and bottom sides thereof with the upper clamping flange 5 and the lower clamping flange 6. In connection with the top portion of the frame 4l it will be noted that the same is provided with a raised central portion 7 which is preferably of sufiicient height to compensate for ythe thickness of the bottom 1 of the fuel magazine when the frame is suspended within the opening 2 by the clamping plate 8. The said clamping plate 8 is secured to the crusher frame 4 by means of suitable fastening elements such as the belts 9, thereby suspending the frame within the o ening so that the pair of stationary crushing teeth 10 carried by the cross bar 11 of the crushing frame will be disposed entirely within the fuel magazine, and the Lsoaeoo entire Crusher C will be movably suspended in the opening 2.

T'he bottom of the Crusher frame 4 is provided with the side bracket members 12 each having the upper clamping flanges 13 and the lower attaching flanges 14, and also a plurality of interior supporting lugs 15 which are spaced down from the inner top edges of said flanges, and .arranged in longitudinal alinement. The said' upper clamping flanges 13 of the' side brackets are secured to the lower clamping flanges 6 of the crusher frame by means of the bolts 16, and clamp therebetween. the side edges lof the bottom plate 17 which is provided with a gravity discharge opening 18, while the lower attaching flanges 14 are suit-ably securedI to the sidesy of the conveyer chute 3. The clamping of the bottom plate 17 between the flanges 6 and 13 provides a guidef way 19 in the crusher frame 4 and also a guide-way 20 in connection with the longitudinally alined interior lugs 15 on the side bracket members 12'.

Slidably mounted in the guide-way 19 and resting on the bottom plate 17 is a sliding gate 21 which' is capable of a back and forth movement in the said guide-way of the Crusher frame. The said gate 21 is provided with the top cut-olf surfaces 22 at either end thereof, while the central portion is provided with a rabbeted opening 23 which is adapted to receive a suitable measuring screen 24, thereby forming in connection with the plate 17 a gravity discharge chamber 25. On each side of the chamber 25, and preferably centrally located on the gate 21 are the Crusher teeth 26 which are preferably formed inte'gral with said gate andare accordingly movable therewith. AV self-adjusting crosshead 27 extends transversely through the rear portion of the gate 21, the middle portion of said cross-head beinfg pivotally connected to the said gate by means of the pivot pin 28, While the outer end portions are connected as at 29 to the arms 30 of the crusher operating means, such for instance as that disclosed in my Patent No. 1,103,406, dated July. 14, 1914.l

For the purpose of increasing or diminishing the supply of fuel from the tender magazine to the conveyer chute, there is provided a fuel cut-olf plate 31 which is mounte reciprocating movement of the cut-off plate 31. One end of the said plate is pivotally connected by the link 34 with an operating lever 35 which is fulcrumed as at 36 in a bracket 37 offset from one side of the conveyer chute 3. The end of the lever 35 opposite its connection with the link 33 is jointed to an operatingrod 38 which is suitably connected with an operating engine.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present arrangement of combined crusher and measuring device, does not require the presence of' agitating means to affect Ia continuous coal supply to the conveyer, and further that no crushing piston is necessary. This is one of the distinctive features of the present invention, and the omission of the elements just mentioned is amply compensated for by the arrangement of the stationary crusher teeth 10 in the fuel magazine, and likewise the movable crusher teeth 26. The movement of the sliding gate 21 serves the combined function of crushing, feeding, and measuring fuel to be supplied to the conveyer, and the cut-ofi' ,plate 31 which is adapted to be adjusted by the fireman for slack coal, lump coal, and again when heavy ring is to be maintained operates beneath the sliding gate and effectively controls the quantity of fuel passing from the magazine to the conveyer.

I claim`:

1. A stoking apparatus including a fuel magazine, and a 'crushing device having crushing elements opeiating inside of the magazine and having measuring and discharging means operating exterior of the magazine.

2. In combination, a fuel magazine having a discharge opening in its floor, a 'crushing and feeding device suspended directly in such opening, and power means operatively applied to such device below the magazine floor.

3. A stoking apparatus including a fuel magazine having a bottom discharge opening, a crusher frame suspended directly within said opening, crushing means carried by the frame and operating inside of the magazine, and measuring discharging means also carried by the frame and operating outside of the magazine.

4. A stoking apparatus, including a fuel magazine having a bottom discharge opening, a crusher frame suspended within said opening, fixed crusher teeth carried by the frame and projecting into the magazine, movable crusher teeth mounted in the frame and also projecting into the magazine, and measuring and discharging meansoperating below the crusher teeth.

5. A fuel crusher and feeder for stoking plants comprising in combination with a support, of a crusher device clamped to said support, said crusher device including a crusher frame, fixed crusher teethjcarried thereby, slidable measurin meansmounted in the crusher frame,` crus erteethf'carried by said slidable measuring means, and means for operating the slidable measuring means.

6. A fuel crusher and feeder-"forstoking plants comprising in combination with a support, of a crusher device clamped to said support, said crusher device including a crusher frame, fixed crusher teeth carried thereby, slidable measuring means mounted in the crusher frame, by said slidable measuring means, cut-off means for controlling the discharge of fuel, and means for operating the slidable measuring means and said cut-off means.

7. In a stoking device, vthe combination crusher teeth carried with the fuel magazine having a bottom discharge opening and a conveyer chute arf' ranged beneath said discharge opening, of a fuel crushing and .measurin device suspended from the magazine wit in said discharge opening, and also having a supporting connection with the chute.

8. A fuel crusher for stoking mechanisms including a fixed crushing element, a reciprocal element coperating therewith, and a self adjusting cross-head pivotally connected With said reciprocal element and engineactuated operating connections with the cross-head.

9. In a fuel crusher and feeder for stoking plants comprising a fuel bin having a discharge opening in its floor, a fixed crusher element disposed Within said discharge opening, movable crusher elements arranged to operate in opposition tohsaid fixed crusher elements, and self adjusting said movable crusher elements;

10. In a fuel crusher and feeder for stoking plants, an open crusher frame having at the top an intermediate stationary tooth bar respectively forming openings on opposite sides thereof, fixed crusher teeth carried by said tooth bar, a sliding feeding and measuring gate operating below said bar, and movably arranged crusher elements projecting through said crusher frame openings and working i'n opposition to the fixed teeth.

11. In a fuel crusher and feeder for stoking lants, an open crusher frame, an intermediate stationary tooth bar at the top of said crusher frame forming openings on each side thereof, fixed crusher teeth carried by said tooth bar, a reciprocating measuring gate arranged beneath said tooth bar, crusher teeth carried by said gate and working in opposition to said fixed crusher teeth, and cut-off means operatively arranged beneath said sliding gate.

v12. In a fuel crusher and feedery for stoking plants, an open crusher frame, an intermediate stationary tooth bar at the top 'of said crusher frame forming openings on each side thereof, fixed crusher teeth carried by said tooth bar, a sliding gate arranged beneath said tooth bar, crusher teeth carried b v said gate and working in opposition to said fixed crusher teeth, and self-adjusting actuating means operatively connected with said sliding gate.

13. In a fuel crusher and feeder for stoking plants, an open Crusher frame, an intermediate stationary tooth bar at the top of said crusher frame forming openings on each side thereof, fixed Crusher teeth carried by said tooth bar, a sliding measuring gate arranged beneath said tooth bar and having a discharge chamber and cut-oli surfaces, crusher teeth carried by said gate and Working in opposition to said fixed crusher teeth, and self-adjusting actuating means operatively connected with said sliding gate for bringing the cut-off surfaces and dlscharge chamber of the gate in position to alternately open and close the openings on either side of said tooth bar.

14. In a fuel crusher and feeder for stoking plants, an open crusher frame, an intermediate stationary tooth bar at the top of said crusher frame forming openings on each side thereof, fixed crusher teeth carried by said tooth bar, a reciprocating measuring gate arranged in said crusher frame, crushing elements carried by said gate and Working in opposition to said fixed Crusher teeth, self adjusting actuating means operatively connected with said gate, and operatively arranged cut-ott' means disposed beneath said reciprtxi'ating gate.

15. In a fuel crusher and feeder for stoking plants, an open Crusher frame having at the top an intermediate stationary tooth bar forming openings on opposite sides thereof, fixed crusher teeth carried by said tooth bar, a supporting plate provided with a gravity discharge opening secured to said frame, a sliding gate having a discharge chamber and cut-olf surfaces movable in the crusher frame, Crusher teeth carried by said sliding gate, a measuring screen for said discharge chamber, a reciprocating cut-off plate having an opening arranged beneath said supporting plate, mea-ns for operating said sliding gate to actuate the Crusher teeth and bring cut-off surfaces thereon alternately over the openings on either side of the toot-h bar, and means for actuating the cut-off plate to regulate fuel passing from the magazine.

1G. In a-Stoking device the combination with the fuel magazine and conveyer chute, of a Crusher device having a float-ing connection with said magazine and also connected to the said conveyor chute.

17. In a stoking device the combination with the fuel magazine and the conveyor chute, of a crusher device connected with the magazine so as to be capable of movement in a horizontal plane and also having a supporting connection with the conveyor chute.

18. In a stolting device, the combination with the fuel magazine and the conveyor chute, of a cruslier device movably suspended from said magazine Within the discharge opening, and having a supporting connection with the conveyer chute.

19. In a fuel crusher and feeder. in combi nation, an open crusher frame having a fixed bar located across its opening and provided with upstanding Crusher teeth, and a gate reciprocal below the frame opening and having upstanding Crusher teeth at each end,

such teeth cooperating in alternation with the teeth of the fixed bar.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. NORMAN E. GEE. IVitnesses B. S. BROWN, J. T. HANLON.

- Copies o t this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

